The Death of Mrs Westaway cover art

The Death of Mrs Westaway

A modern-day murder mystery from The Sunday Times Bestseller

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The Death of Mrs Westaway

By: Ruth Ware
Narrated by: Imogen Church
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware, read by Imogen Church.

When Harriet Westaway receives an unexpected letter telling her she’s inherited a substantial bequest from her Cornish grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. She owes money to a loan shark and the threats are getting increasingly aggressive: she needs to get her hands on some cash fast.

There's just one problem - Hal's real grandparents died more than twenty years ago. The letter has been sent to the wrong person. But Hal knows that the cold-reading techniques she’s honed as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way to getting the money. If anyone has the skills to turn up at a stranger's funeral and claim a bequest they’re not entitled to, it’s her.

Hal makes a choice that will change her life for ever. But once she embarks on her deception, there is no going back. She must keep going or risk losing everything, even her life…

The brand new psychological thriller from the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10.

'The Death of Mrs Westaway is Ruth Ware's best: a dark and dramatic thriller, part murder mystery, part family drama, altogether riveting' AJ FINN, bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

 Crime Thrillers Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Money Crime Fiction Exciting Scary

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Critic reviews

‘Powerfully atmospheric, unguessably twisty…I devoured it’ -
'I read this in two lightning quick sittings, Hal is the most enthralling anti-heroine and the gothic Cornish setting was riveting. But mainly this was just an incredible story, filled with utterly believable characters and brilliantly told. I absolutely adored it' -
The Death of Mrs Westaway is Ruth Ware's best: a dark and dramatic thriller, part murder mystery, part family drama, altogether riveting.
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan then you’ll love this eerie new offering from mega-author Ruth Ware… Dark, unsettling and brilliant.
A dark tale by one of the best thriller writers around.
Few contemporary novelists understand the power of an isolated landscape better than Ruth Ware… her best yet!
Ruth Ware does that amazing thing of creating a compellingly gripping premise for a book.
Ware’s fourth novel reaffirms her position as one of the best thriller writers around today… This cleverly plotted murder mystery-meets-psychological family drama is dark enough to send a shiver down one’s spine even on the hottest summer’s day.
Deliciously dark and spooky mystery.
Full of eerie atmosphere and intrigue… the story is deftly told and compelling
All stars
Most relevant
This is a really good book, a compelling story that I found tough to put down, with richly drawn characters that I grew to care about. However, it is not flawless and there is enough wrong to prevent it being a 5* read/listen. Firstly, it was often repetitive e.g there were far too many ‘blushes rising up through’ a character, too many puzzled expressions and a ridiculous number of severe bangs on the head for the same character, where symptoms of concussion were described but then passed over with no consequences (what is her head made of?).

Those little issues alone would still have me affording the book 5* because the story was so good. However, it was always a bit too wordy. Sadly, from chapter 46 through 52, that became a big issue. Those chapters are extremely long-winded and, surprisingly for such an experienced novelist, Ware even plays fast and loose with the English language. For example, a character could not have “seen an imperceptible difference”, if it’s imperceptible, it cannot be perceived! There were other points were the writing was sloppy. Despite these, at times distracting, flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it. Although, because of them, I would not read it a second time. Such a shame as it could so easily have gone from very good, to excellent.

Gripping, I loved it, but . . .

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The story did grip me but I really struggled with the narrator. it was hard to listen to her. it was the story that made me stick this one out

It took a while but I got through it

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Narator is good but the story is actually a bit boring. Takes very long to start, many repeating ideas and sentences. Story is really just OK.

thin story very long winded

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I really liked this book at the beginning- set in brighton, the tarot themes running through, that was all really good. I found as it went on, it became over descriptive with the obvious, as of the reader was a bit thick, ie- 3 consecutive different long winded sentences, one after the other, describing what’s already happened, then wondering why, and who. And then again, and then again. I kept thinking- “yes we know that, get on with it”, and then it would probably repeat it again. Ive also listened to a lot of audiobooks with this narrator, and won’t be anymore, I’m just not a fan- sorry.

Bit of an irritating listen

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Laboured and badly narrated - over emphasising each word was irritating and amateur.
Essentially a good story but too much repetition in crass attempts to build suspense.
Glad to get to the end!

Good story but...

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